It’s been 20 years since Louis Theroux’s When Louis Met… series first aired, where the documentarian profiled the likes of Ann Widdecombe and Chris Eubank. Now, from quarantine, the journalist is taking a break from his foray into cooking to return once again to the world of celebrity, this time with his new podcast, Grounded with Louis Theroux.
Stuck in lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis, Theroux is using his time to catch up with some of the high profile figures he’s always wanted to interview, including Lenny Henry, Boy George, Miriam Margoyles, and more.
The series marks Theroux’s first ever radio and podcast show, and launches on BBC Sounds today (April 20), before the first full episode drops next week (April 27). According to a press release, each episode will see the journalist “digging into the psyches” of his guests, bringing listeners “up close to these well-known individuals”. Theroux’s first guest is writer and documentary filmmaker Jon Ronson, with whom the journalist discusses their professional rivalry and how Ronson is handling the lockdown.
“I’ve really loved doing these interviews,” Theroux said in a press release. “It’s been a chance to speak to people I admire, and have in-depth conversations with them about their lives, careers, and their most intimate feelings. Making a podcast and radio series is very different to my usual way of working, and for that reason, I’ve found it very fun and refreshing.”
As well creating his podcast, Theroux has been using his time in lockdown to watch some Netflix, just like the rest of us. Namely: Tiger King. The show’s star, Joe Exotic, was the subject of Theroux’s 2011 documentary, America’s Most Dangerous Pets. Writing on Instagram, the journalist shared his experience of working with the idiosyncratic zoo owner. “I liked spending time with him. He wasn’t always relaxing to be around though. He was worried about the angle of our documentary. He pulled access for a bit, then we talked him back.”
You can subscribe to Grounded with Louis Theroux on BBC Sounds from today (April 20), with a new episode dropping every Monday. Radio listeners can catch the series on Radio 4 from May 6 at 8pm, with a new episode airing weekly
